Chemicals Impact Your Roof

This roof has rust caused by chemicals leaving the vent.

Are there industrial chemicals in your plant or from a neighboring plant that require special cleaning? These chemicals that deteriorate your roof and require excess cleaning can have a significant negative impact on your roofing system.

Are you near an airport, fertilizer plant, farms spraying pesticides, concrete mixing operations, or body shops constantly spraying paint? If you answered yes to any of these questions, there may be toxic chemicals coming over from your neighbors that are on your roof right now. These chemicals are shortening your roof’s life and making it fail faster.

Other factors in your environment worth considering are salty air (are you located near the ocean?) causing your roof to rust much more quickly, grease vents over food processing or restaurant areas (is your building a restaurant or located close to one?), and the climate you operate in. Do you have 90 degree days followed by 40 degree nights? This thermal shock can greatly reduce your roof life. It is important to understand the environment your building is located in, and the perils associated with that environment.

Conclusion

The main thing when it comes to the environment around your building is not to know exactly how each factor impacts your building right now, although that is good, but the main thing is to recognize that these factors exist and may change your roof’s performance. If you know that, you can let the expert contractor you choose know about it.